1930 - 2006

Programme of Events June to August2006

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Thursday 22rd June to Saturday 1^st July (or fewer days between those dates if preferred):

A holiday of short walks led by Peter Culba with some sight seeing, travelling by bus: location around Portinscale near Keswick. Staying at B&B at about £30 per night (self catering accommodation nearby already fully booked). Travel by train from London to Penrith then bus to Keswick. Portinscale is about 1 mile from Keswick. Local bus runs every two hours but local taxis not too expensive and a mile walk might warm you up for a week walking!! Further details from Peter Culba

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Sunday 25^th June 2006 (Landranger map 197)        Leader: Philip Evans

MEET                : Victoria 0840 for 0904 train to Amberley (arr. 1027)

LUNCH             : Three Moles, Selham (no food). All welcome to eat your                                   own food in the garden or the covered patio but PLEASE                                 NOT IN THE PUB ITSELF.

TEA                   : Cannot see any non-alcoholic beverage on the horizon

DISTANCE        : 24 miles, returning from Amberley

FARE                : £10.65 COR Amberley with Network Card

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Sunday 2^nd July 2006  - Map Reading Ramble: Leaders: Paul Connolly and Tony Finnegan

This is a ramble specially designed for those who hope to lead rambles at some time, to assist them in making the best use of ordnance survey maps. If possible please have a copy of Landranger Map 167 with you (it can be borrowed from most public libraries). Those who are already practised in map reading will help explain to those less practised how to relate what you see on the map to what you need to see on the ground.

MEET        : Liverpool Street at 0940 for 1002 train to Ingatestone (arr.                               1035).
LUNCH     : The White Hart, Margaretting Tye.

TEA          :  Chelmsford

DISTANCE: 10 undulating miles (could be some mud), returning from                                Chelmsford.

                     Three trains an hour back to Liverpool Street.

FARE        : £7.25 COR Chelmsford with Network Card discount

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Sunday 9^th July 2006 (Explorer Map 147)             Leader: Paul Brunning

MEET        : Charing Cross 0935 for 0954 train to Chelsfield, Kent (arr. 1024)

LUNCH     : Three Horseshoes, Knockholt Pound (good reasonably priced                         food)
TEA           : Sevenoaks?

DISTANCE: 10.5 miles, returning from Sevenoaks

FARE         : £4.90 COR Sevenoaks with Network Card discount

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Thursday 13^th July the English Catholic History Association is having a talk, tour, Mass at St Etheldreda's and walk with Mgr Stark KCSH. Dorothy Hickman will have details and booking form in June.

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Sunday 16^th July 2006 (Landranger Map 176)      Leaders: Tony Finnegan and Paul Connolly

This is a summer picnic ramble which the Committee hope will be enjoyed by a good number of
active ramblers. The terrain will not be difficult and no mud is expected. The distance will be
within the ability of most ramblers.

MEET               : Waterloo 0945 for 1009 train to Egham (arr. 1053). There is                            a convenient 9am mass at St Patrick's (Franciscan run)                                  Church, two minutes walk from Waterloo Station.

LUNCH            : Picnic by Virginia Water Lake. Bring your own eatables. Tea                            and coffee can be bought at the nearby kiosk. If wet we can                            have tea in the Wheatsheaf Tea Rooms nearby where                                    toilets will also be available.

TEA                  : The walk finishes two miles after the picnic lunch stop. tea                               addicts will be able to get more at the Cafe Blu at Virginia                               Water station.

DISTANCE       : 10 miles, returning from Virginia Water.

FARE               : £5.10 COR Virginia Water with Network Card

Sunday 23rdJuly 2006 (Landranger Map 167)        Leader: Philip Evans

MEET         : Meet Oxford Circus Underground Station 9 15 and take next                          Central Line train to Loughton. It should get to Loughton before                      10 15 for 1030 sharp departure

LUNCH      : Forest Gate Inn, Bell Common (pub serves food so don't eat                          your own on the pub premises)

TEA           : By kind invitation at Alf and Marie Tisi's, Theydon Bois

DISTANCE: 9 miles, returning from Theydon Bois. Walk very hilly(not for the                      weak knees)

FARE         : £6.60 All Zone Travel Card (£4.80 with Network South East                            card discount. Philip will join the train at Mile End.

Sunday 30^th July 2006 (Explorer Map 123)    Leader: Maurice Hickman

MEET         : Victoria 0925 for 0947 train to Eastbourne (arr. 1119)
LUNCH      : Tiger Inn, East Dean

TEA            : Birling Gap (chance of a swim here, weather permitting)

DISTANCE : 12 miles, returning from Eastbourne. Plenty of buses at all                               stopping points.

FARE          : £13.40 COR Eastbourne with Network Card. (Visit 

                      www.southernrailway.com where you can get the fare down                           to as little as £5. See the box on page 5 at the end of the

                      ramble list for details).

Sunday 6^th August 2006 (Explorer Map 147)        Leader: Paul Brunning

MEET         : Charing Cross 0935 for 0954 train to Sevenoaks (arr. 1029)
LUNCH       : The White Horse, Brasted

TEA            : Sevenoaks (optional)

DISTANCE : 11 miles, returning from Sevenoaks

FARE          : £4.90 COR Sevenoaks with Network Card

Sunday 13^th August 2006 (Explorer Map 145)   Leader: Witold Sokolowski

MEET         : Waterloo 0935 for 1000 train to Witley (arr. 1102)

LUNCH       : Picnic snack on top of small hill followed by late lunch in                                Wetherspoon, Godalming

TEA             : By the river at Godalming

DISTANCE : 8-10 miles, returning from Godalming. Possibility of Mass at                          Godalming at 6pm.
FARE          : £8.60 COR Witley with Network Card

Sunday 20^th August 2006 (Explorer Map 146)     Leader: Dorothy Hickman

MEET         : Victoria 1010 for 1032 train to Redhill (arr. 1105)

LUNCH      : The Station Hotel, South Nutfield (near train station)
TEA            : Perhaps you could bathe in the Sun in Redhill?

DISTANCE : 8 miles, returning from Redhill

FARE          : £5.10 COR Redhill with Network Card. Possible to join or leave                       at lunch in which case buy a ticket to Nutfield (same fare).

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21^st to 24^th August Saints of the South East: The English Catholic History
Association is holding a conference on the 'Saints of the South East'. Staying at the Franciscan International Study Centre at Canterbury from Monday 21st to Thursday morning 24th August. There will be guided visits to places of Christian interest in Canterbury. Talks include origins of Christianity in Britain, Franciscans in Canterbury, seven post-Reformation Martyrs of Kent. Cost is £180 for those who are not members of the Association. This conference is organised by Bernard Polack (a life
member and former Treasurer of this Club).

Dorothy Hickman has details and booking forms.

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MONDAY 28^th AUGUST 2006 (Landranger Map 165)  Leader: T ony Norton

MEET         : Marylebone 0820 for 0847 train to Wendover (arr. approx 0945)
LUNCH       : The Plough, Cadsden

TEA             : None reported

DISTANCE  : 12 miles, returning from Great Missenden
FARE           : £6 COR Wendover with Network Card

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Please ensure you bring your Network cards or Gold cards so that you can get the 1/3rd off full fares for yourself and up to three guests travelling with you. You can also get an all zone travel card for £4.80 using your network card at a rail or underground station. 

Unless otherwise indicated the fare shown is the fare from the London terminus to our destination. Most people can get a reduction by using a travel card for part of the journey. Also look out for deals on South West trains which often allow three or four people travelling together to travel for the price of two.

There is a very good offer on the Southern Railways Website
(www.southernrailway.com) where, seven days before you travel, you can book a one day off peak rover ticket to travel anywhere on Southern's network for £10. Four people together get it for just £20 altogether.

Don't forget Sunday train services can be affected by engineering works. Information on these can be obtained by calling 08457 484950 or see National Rail Website at www.nationalrail.com  

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Future Dates for Your Diary.

Many thanks to members who have come forward with plans for social events, holidays, weekends etc.It gives them great encouragement if a good number of members attend and bring their families and friends. So please note the following events, beyond the period covered by this programme, in your diary and do your best to support them when the time comes.

Monday 18 September to Monday 25 September Holiday in Dumfries & Galloway, Joining up with Peter Culba's Lakeland holiday in Keswick (25 September - 2 October).

Staying in guesthouses in Dumfries for 7 nights. Cost £20-£30 bed & breakfast per night for a sinqle room. Travel to Dumfries by train (probably about 11.46am) from Euston, changing at Carlisle; takes about 5 hours. For cheapest fares it's important to book in advance. Options available are £11.55 (Advance C) or £15.50 (Advance B) for a single ticket with Senior Rail Card, subject to availability. Travel to Keswick: train from Dumfries to Carlisle and then bus to Keswick; takes about 3 hours. Travel cost about £17 (reduction available with railcard).

Walking up to 8 miles with sightseeing. Attractions include forests with red squirrels,
prehistoric hill forts, historic castles and abbeys, scenic hills and coastlands.

If interested ring Dorothy Hickman.

Monday 25^th September to Monday 2^nd October A week of short walks led by Peter Culba, hopefully staying at Lakeside House, Keswick. Cost approx £230 dinner bed and breakfast. Return to London by bus from Keswick to Penrith and then train to London. Cost about £30 with card. Further details from Peter Culba.  

Saturday 7^th  October 2006 Annual General Meeting: Last year we had a very good turnout as the AGM preceded our 75^th anniversary celebration. Please put the date in your diary again for this year and watch for details in the next programme. There will be Mass for members intentions after the AGM at 6 pm at St Joseph's Church Bunhill Row. 

Saturday 14^th Saturday 14th October 2006 Annual reunion at St Mary Moorfields. If you had a note in your diary that this would be held on the same day as the AGM please note that due to circumstances beyond the control of those organising it the reunion will now take place on Saturday 14th October from 12.30. No need to book but bring a plate of food to share.

Saturday 11^th November 2006. Mass for deceased members 6 PM Mass in St Joseph's Church Bunhill Row. Last year we had a record low turnout for this annual event so I hope we can bump up the numbers this year. Those who attend the Mass usually have a pleasant meal together afterwards. 

Autumn Fund Raising Event: The date hasn't been fixed yet but sometime in October or November we hope to have a special Charity fund raising event. There will be a demonstration of music played on medieval instruments that would have been popular in the time of St Francis. Also entertainment provided by a choir and, of course, an opportunity for club members with musical or dramatic talents to show them off. More details in the next programme.

Lourdes trip in 2008: As I said in the last programme I have recently been reminded that 2008 will be the 150th anniversary of the apparitions at Lourdes and Anne Dunne has made an excellent suggestion of organising a club pilgrimage to Lourdes to mark the occasion. Anne should not of course be left to do all the organising and offers of help will be very welcome. As a first thought she feels that it would be nice to have one of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal along as a spiritual leader and that idea can be discussed. Preliminary expressions of interest to Anne please and we will then follow up this exciting proposal. Thanks to those who have already made contact.

News, Views and items of interest

Welcome to New members: A hearty welcome to Pat Trimming and Mary Pearson who have become fully paid up members since the last programme: We wish them many years of happy rambling with the club.

Apology: Our Treasurer, Gillian, has asked me to convey her apologies for what she regards as her inefficient service to members recently, says she's been feeling her age! Or maybe she hopes that if she doesn't continue to do too good a job someone else will volunteer to be Treasurer in October!

A pair of walking boots going for a song: One of our longest standing members (Patrick Shanahan) has a pair of size 10 boots that he does not intend wearing any more. They are several years old but have only been worn for less than an hour. Pat has kindly offered them to any interested club member
and said he does not expect payment but suggests a small donation to club funds. If interested contact Pat (unfortunately Pat has died since this programme was originally published. 

Thanks to those who supported the Day of Recollection: Although not a very large attendance there were more people at the Day of Recollection than we have had in recent years. Those who attended found Bishop O'Brien's direction of the day excellent and having lunch served by the Benedictines in the Monastery was quite a treat. If anyone has ideas for how this event might be run in future years we would be delighted to hear them.

Have you put up the Club poster?: Does your parish notice board display a copy of the club's
invitation to new ramblers to come and join us? If not please get a copy of it from one of the
membership secretaries. Then ask your parish priest for permission to put it up, or if there is one there already just replace it with the new one showing the names and details of the membership secretaries for the current year.

Obituaries: We were devastated to hear of the death on Sunday 19^th March of Dave Richardson. In his short time in the club Dave did a lot to publicise our activities. He always had copies of our notice board announcement with him and approached many parish priests to put one up in their church. A number of club members attended the funeral and we sent a special enrolment in the Franciscan Mass Association as a token of our sympathy to his sorrowing family. May he rest in peace.

Sincere condolences also to Pat King and John Sealy whose brother Ed died last year following a road accident in Streatham.  

Club Committee 2005-06

(Please note: Addresses and telephone numbers are not included in this  internet version of the programme)  

President: Fr Peter Newby, Parish Priest, St                  Vice President: Helen Hunt,

Mary Moorfields, 4-5 Eldon Street, London EC2M 7LS.      

Secretary: Tony Finnegan,                                               Treasurer: 

Ramble List Compiler: Maurice Hickman                        Membership Secretaries:

                                                                                           Alison Clarke, 

                                                                                           Paul Connolly, 

Social Secretary:                                                              Committee Members

Anne Dunne,                                                                       Antoinette Connolly,  and

                                                                                            Francis O'Sullivan,